Contextualized Knowledge Reduces Misconceived COVID-19 Health Decisions.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Cognitive Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Conflicting health information during pandemics can create cognitive conflict.
• Prior knowledge and personal context influence health behavior endorsement.
• COVID-19 offers a unique context to study these influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate how cognitive conflict impacts health decision-making during a pandemic.
• Examine the roles of health-specific knowledge and personal context.
• Test a dual-process-model framework for health decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a dual-process-model framework.
• Employed a computer mouse-tracking paradigm.
• Integrated geographical information systems (GIS) for contextual data.

Main Results:

• Supported a contextualized-deficit-model framework.
• Demonstrated that knowledge and context help override cognitive conflict.
• Found that individuals make more preventative health decisions when overriding conflict.

Conclusions:

• Relevant knowledge and context are crucial for navigating conflicting health information.
• Findings suggest strategies for experts to combat non-adherence.
• Effective communication strategies should consider individual knowledge and context.